raider-waite deck yes or no

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 13 Jul 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Necromancer	13 Jul 2004
this is one of the most useful decks around what do you all think about it. O me i'm yes yes yes on this one

Emily	14 Jul 2004
I like the Rider Waite, I think its a good deck for a beginner if you like the artwork - I have the so called 'Original Rider Waite' the one in the blue and gold box with the tudor rose pattern on the back of the cards but I'm not overkeen on the colouring of this deck, no blue just green and limited colours, also thick black outlining on the cards makes some of the artwork difficult to see. The standard Rider Waite is much more nicely coloured - I have the pocket version of this one. But if none of these versions appeal to you then you have the choice of the Universal Waite or the Radiant Rider. Or move away from the artwork of the Rider Waite and buy the Morgan Greer. :D

Chronata	14 Jul 2004
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes...and Yes.

September Pixie	14 Jul 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Chronata Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes...and Yes. Me too! Me too!

lark	14 Jul 2004
Everybody should have at least one RWS. So go for it! Naughty me I have 7..... :|

Little Baron	14 Jul 2004
Definitely .. like Lark says, I think everyone should have at least one ... I have the RW and the Universal

lunakasha	14 Jul 2004
Yes from me too....I have the Radiant and several of the so-called "clones".....this deck is a classic, and an excellent deck to start out with!!! :) Luna

Necromancer	14 Jul 2004
This is one of the best decks of all time and I use it all the time. Completly with chronata.

dolphingirl	15 Jul 2004
you definitely have to have at least one :) The hardest part for me would be to stop at just one. There kind of like potato chips in that regard. :) Do you have a favorite colorization yet?

tao51	15 Jul 2004
I agree, everyone should have at least one in their collection. The Rider-Waite was my second deck of Tarot Cards. It has never left my shelf of favorites.--Tao

Aun	16 Jul 2004
Hell Y E A H !!!

Cocobird55	17 Jul 2004
Yes. It is especially good to use while you are learning, because there are so many books based on it. I like the Universal Waite and the Radiant ... Sue

Fulgour	17 Jul 2004
I have a pre-usgames Rider & Company copy of this deck and the box simply states: Tarot Cards. So I can't help but referring to this deck as ~ The Pamela Colman Smith Tarot of 1909 ...and it feels so right to say so!

ros	17 Jul 2004
YES! ~ I agree everyone should have one or more RWS decks ~

Diana	17 Jul 2004
Considering the importance this deck has in the anglo-saxon world of Tarot today, I think it is pretty essential for everyone to own a copy of this deck. It does not lack in interest.

WolfSpirit	17 Jul 2004
My first deck was an RWS simply because I did not know there were other decks as well, but I never really loved. I have been planning to get another one with prettier colours, but so far I have not done that - I guess inside me there is a reluctance to get another RWS. On the other hand - its images are etched in my mind and I see them jumping at me from numerous books. So I suppose it helps to be familiar with this deck. I would say my relationship with the RWS is more a marriage of convenience than love. It's useful to know the deck, that's about it for me.

Ace	17 Jul 2004
I know what you mean WolfSpirit! My first Tarot encounter was with the IJJ Swiss deck, but I bought a Rider Waite to begin my own exploration. For years afterward I would take to people about tarot and the conversation would go like this: "Oh!" they would say, "you do tarot too?! I use the Esoteric Tarot of 1942 of the Universal Cat People. [or so it sounded to me, since they were talking of decks i had never seen, or before then, heard of.] What deck do you use?" "I use the Rider-Waite." "Oh. [pause] Well, isn't it fun doing Tarot?" I felt a little embarrased to be so ordinary, but no other deck really talked to me until I found the Robin Wood, and even that one took a while to warm up to. Now, I use the WorldTree, and I own a few others but I would recommend the Robin Wood to most beginners. It is mostly like the Rider-Waite, but I think a bit more accessible than RW. This is not to say you shouldn't use or give a beginner a RW deck. The RW is a decent deck, with plenty of literature written on it, as Cocobird55 pointed out. Most decks since then (even Robin Wood and WorldTree) are based on it, but IMHO, it is not as accessible for beginners as other decks, or as pretty-although I do like the Universal Waite! Wolfspirit: you might try another RW-like deck, whether it is an Aquarian, a Robin Wood, an O-e (Japanese) or whatever, that might be fun to play with, but still familiar enough to the RW to have a very short learning curve.

Logiatrix	17 Jul 2004
Of the numerous versions of Pamela Coleman-Smith's artwork, I most like the Golden Rider and the "Original" Rider. As far as all the other interpretations or "clones" of the RWS, I tend to favor the Morgan-Greer, the Herbal, and the older Aquarian (don't like the backs on the modern version). I just can't bring myself to appreciate the standard RWS in the yellow box--don't like the colors, don't like the backs. It's the same for me with the latest and greatest Radiant Rider; I can't embrace the bright and shiny colors--it seems too plastic to me. Here's where I have to state my disclaimer: whatever I turn my nose up to now may very well be my next new love--it's happened before... :rolleyes: :)

WolfSpirit	18 Jul 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Ace Wolfspirit: you might try another RW-like deck, whether it is an Aquarian, a Robin Wood, an O-e (Japanese) or whatever, that might be fun to play with, but still familiar enough to the RW to have a very short learning curve. I have the Robin Wood, but I don't use it much. And I will probably get the Herbal in future - so I do use decks based on the RWS. I was just thinking of getting one very close to the original images to keep as an "archetypal" but then there is always another deck I want more than another RWS lol. I always have my old ugly one for reference anyway, and other decks to actually use.

The 78th Fool	28 Jul 2004
This should be an essential part of everyone's collection - after all it's the mother of one of the main strands of modern tarot tradition. For similar reasons I think anyone serious about tarot should also own a Visconti, a Marseilles and a Thoth. Chris. x

Eco74	28 Jul 2004
Should I be feeling guilty over just having clones of the RW?? I think I'll be adding one eventually, but I have an extensive wishlist already.. Golly gee, what is a girl to do??

Sulis	28 Jul 2004
Quote: Should I be feeling guilty over just having clones of the RW?? Eco don't feel guilty about only having clones - I felt like that so I bought myself a pocket RWS deck: Never use it - just don't like it. My Morgan Greer is just as good :) Love Sulis xx

diane drizzy	28 Jul 2004
I have several versions of RWS, with my favorite being the Radiant deck. I also love the Diamond deck, but wish the interiors were larger. Anyhow I've found that I have a greater appreciation of RWS, as I've moved along to several other decks. As was mentioned many books are based on this deck. Oddly enough, I also find myself being critical when I don't see the usual symbols in RWS. :(

SilverWing	28 Jul 2004
I have the Universal & love it.

Anna	28 Jul 2004
Yes! For the same reasons that its a good idea to learn latin (which I wish I'd had the chance to learn at school!), if you understand latin then you have a big adventage in learning other European languages.

MeeWah	28 Jul 2004
A resounding "YES!!" I may be biased as the RWS was my first Tarot deck, but it is definitely my "old faithful". I have two copies. The first published by Samuel Weiser is well-worn & reserved for personal use. A second is published by U.S.Games & used to read for others. This site shows other editions or versions: http://home.comcast.net/~vilex/ShipofFools.html The RWS is representative of a line of tradition, as the Marseilles & Thoth represent their traditions (& in both of which I hope to gain insight & fluency).

hyatt	28 Jul 2004
It's a must have. Like I have said before if you didn't have it, it would be like a chef's kitchen not having flour. It's a basic ingredient - can not do with out it and there is no substiture in my opinion.

Phantom Goddess	28 Jul 2004
I personally never cared for RWS. I had a copy of it, didn't use so I gave it away. Lately I've been thinking about getting the Robin Wood deck or the Universal. I just didn't like the typical RWS

juju	29 Jul 2004
I had a ghetto version of the RWS (yes ghetto). It had keywords written on the borders - ruining the readings for me. So I never ever used mine after I got the Goddess tarot deck and then I bought more and that was that. I personally don't feel anything for the deck. How do you know if you are an original Rider-Waite?

Ace	30 Jul 2004
Quote: Originally posted by The 78th Fool This should be an essential part of everyone's collection - after all it's the mother of one of the main strands of modern tarot tradition. For similar reasons I think anyone serious about tarot should also own a Visconti, a Marseilles and a Thoth. Chris. x Really? a Thoth? and A Visconti? and/or Marseilles even though I can't read with them? I can see them as being historically important (as are Mother Peace or other Non-RWS deck) but I draw the line at HAVE to own or study them if I am serious about tarot.

The raider-waite deck yes or no thread was originally posted on 13 Jul 2004 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.